Thursday, December 27, 2012

Cutex Color Quick Nail Polish - Crushed Cranberries

I found this Cutex from Ebay which is a dead ringer for Rimmel's Funky Diva, one of my favorite colours. The only difference is the consistency as Cutex is runnier and takes less time to dry. The bottle says One Coat Formula but I think you really need two to get it completley opaque. Like with most fast dry nail polishes, it has a slight matt finish. It does'nt really matter as I put on top coat. I think it's a good go-to nail polish if in a hurry.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

How To Do A Fishtail Plait

I was on YouTube and stumbled onto a Head To Toe (awesome blog) video explaining how to do a fishtail plait.

These days the most stylish my hair gets is in a ponytail. It was refreshing to do something a little different with my hair. And I was surprised to learn how easy it is to do a fishtail plait.

Its basically these two steps repeated:

1) Holding your hair into 2 equal sections, take a minor lock of hair from the rear of one section and pass it to the other by gathering it over.
2) from the rear of this other section, pass it onto the first, gathering it in also.

Keep repeating these steps until you run out of hair, tightening along the way and securing with a hair band.

You can loosen or pull out some hair afterwards to create that messy hair look. It's easy peasy, otherwise check YouTube for a tutorial.

For some reason my first attempt looks like a normal plait but its definitely not!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Cutex Huckleberry Nail Polish

As you can seen with the "tide line", this nail polish is thin and it's probably the reason why I went off Cutex many moons ago. I still wonder the real reason why this brand stopped selling polish. The original tapered long white tops brings back many fond memories. As a child they were highly prized even though they were bought from the supermarket.

This color is retro and every time I wear it, I think what an unconventional color it is. Probably it's the only deep blue I can wear without looking like a witch.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Coach Cross Body Bag (Vintage?)

Can anyone ID this Coach? Atleast I think it's a real Coach-the leather looks right and it has an embossed inside label with serial number. I got it from the charity shop for £14.

It's leather is lush and super soft. This cute bag is mighty handy to use. I love cross body bags!


Regaine Foam - So Far

In short, it's easier to apply because there are no drips however even a tiny bit gives me awful dandruff. My scalp (where it's applied) is so dry it's flaking off! I think the side effects of Rogaine are from the minoxidil and not glycol propylene.

However it is making more baby hairs so it's hard for me to stop using it. Now I only put a touch on every few days. I have a strong suspicion that it's giving me premature forehead wrinkles. So more wrinkles or more hair???



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

How To Control Raging Excema

Winter has caused my excema to flare up and I've given up on non-steroid creams. None I've tried can tame the angry patches on my forearms and calves. (Interesting how excema forms symmetrically on both axises of the body).

My excema is getting so bad that I'm scratching like a madwoman. Its unsightly, uncomfortable and infuriating!

So without resorting to cortisone creams, I've learned a practically magic trick to keep the itchiness at bay and calm the affected areas. For me it really works and it even temporarily cures my excema after a few days.

So I'll let you in on my secret. I stick skin tape directly over the affected areas (cleaned and dried). The tape is porous, gentle and provides a protective barrier against irritants and dryness. The effect is immediate and soothing. I can go to the gym, shower with it on and take it off after a few days or when it starts to look manky.

There's no urge to itch and when the tape comes off, my skin is calm and soft. Its like normal skin again! The tape does an even better job than steroid creams because I don't need to apply anything while the tape is on.

And because it's winter, my arms and legs are covered so no one is to know. Well, except when I'm working out at the gym but the tape gives the impression of sporting battle wounds :)

Give it a try if you feel like excema's ravaging your life. Let me know if this works for you!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Bargain Of The Day: Vintage Lamp

I stumbled on to a yard sale this morning and bought this lamp for £1!

80s Tetris Nail Art Wraps Water Sticker Decals

I went to a party where I had to wear something from the 80s so I bought these Tetris water stickers from Ebay. How "rad" are they?

They were a bit fiddly to put on. First I applied the nail polish and allowed it to dry. Then I cut out the blocks (individually as I have small nails) and soaked the pieces in water. They absorb water completely in 30 seconds so it's really easy to take off the paper backing with a tweezers. 

I laid the blocks where I wanted them to go one nail at a time and blotted away excess water with a tissue. The decals stuck really well. When all nails were done, I applied a top coat. And voila, Tetris nails!


Friday, November 30, 2012

Rogaine--My Hair Recovery Journey

A few years ago I noticed my hair was'nt as full as thick as it used to be. I could swear I was receding. And when I could see my scalp through the hair on the top of my head, it was time to face the fact that I was losing my hair.

I had blood work done and the doctors could'nt find anything wrong. So they put me on a combination of Rogaine and a testosterone blocker. The latter was a drug which caused me to lose water so I lost a bit of weight. After three months, there was no effect on hair growth or retention. Suddenly I got stabbing pains in my ovaries (or atleast that's where I thought they were) so I stopped the drug immediately. The pain was so bad, I almost keeled over as I was walking on the street!

The Rogaine worked. I grew more hair but it was a messy and greasy application. Twice a day with 5% minoxidil solution. I got a little peach fuzz on my face but the worst side effect was itching. My skin swelled up and wrinkled. Not even on the areas of application either. It was insanely itchy on my forehead and ears. Sometimes my ears would be red and feel like they were burning.

So I decided to stop because the discomfort was'nt worth the results. The peach fuzz went away and I stuck to taking biotin daily.

And a few weeks ago, I took up Rogaine again because I noticed my hair falling out and recession along the frontal hairline. I was getting obsessed and even noticed thinning hair on other women. Is it me or are there quite alot of youngish women nowadays losing their hair? Maybe there's something in the water here.

Anyway this time around I only used it once a day. I had a massive shed in the first two weeks which was expected. I saw myself in the mirror and it looked like I was balding! They say the initial shedding is good sign but I need to stop the treatment. My forehead and ears are so itchy I can't stand it anymore. This morning I woke up and my ears were burning and red.

In the hope that I'm just allergic to propylene glycol, I bought the Rogaine foam which does'nt contain this ingredient. It's meant to help the minoxidil absorb through the skin but I'd like to eliminate this to find out what I'm actually allergic to. Will keep you posted!


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Stockholm Style - Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

I just come back from Stockholm and discovered Swedish style. The city is beautiful and everywhere I looked there was smart and clean design from clothing to home decor. This is typical of Scandinavian style and it's never gone out of fashion.

Thanks to my girlfriends who know fashion, I'm turning Swedish! It's my new style influence. The fashion is sophisticated yet understated. There are no tacky embellishments or lurid features. Just uncomplicated and straight lined design. 

We went shopping and hit up Swedish stores I've never heard of but they're in London, COS and Monki. 

I bought this necklace from COS. It was rather expensive for dress jewellery but I liked the design. 

I bought a H&M grey blazer on sale for 100 SEK or £9. Bargain!

And a splurge was Maison Martin Margiela for H&M perspex wedge pumps 1999 SEK. They had heaps of MMM stock in the Stockholm flagship store. They are hot but now to figure out where I can wear these...

Monday, November 19, 2012

Vintage Pierre Nicol Watch and Delvaux Bag

Ever since I found a vintage Favre Lueba, I can't pass a jewellery display case at charity shops without searching for more vintage watches. 

I found this one recently from Pierre Nicol for £5. I had to get the battery and leather strap replaced. Weeks later the watch stopped so I had the inner workings replaced. It's not as wonderful as a Swiss but I like the design. I think it's a mens watch which is why it's so big. A departure from the dainty ones I normally wear but now I can do big without chunky. 

I also bought this vintage Delvaux dark brown bag which is exquisitely made. I have'nt heard of this designer before so when I looked it up, I found out their bags are super expensive. While this one's a terrific bargain for £12, I don't think I can rock the elongated trapezoid shape. Still thinking about whether to keep this or not. 


Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Bargain Hobbs Coat Which Wasn't A Bargain After All

I was on a roll with finding cool stuff in a charity shop. I found gorgeous LK Bennet ballet flats £3, Topshop top £4.25, Warehouse skirt £5, this slouchy leather pewter bag £8 and this Hobbs coat for a bargain £7.50!

When I tried it on, it looked amazing. Well I thought it did and two old ladies complimented gushingly on it. The coat was soft and the right beige colour so I could'nt resist. I figured it would be worth getting it dry cleaned and have the buttons reinforced and tears in the lining fixed.

I paid £32.50 for the service and it was'nt until I got it back home and tried it on, I realised the coat was too big. No matter how I tried, I could not rock an oversized coat. My boyfriend even politely said: "Errr the retro look."

So I bit the bullet and took it back to the dry cleaner. He said it would be a lot of work to take the coat in properly (it's a size 10 and I'm a 6) but he figured something out. Instead of taking it in from the two back seams, he'll take it in from the sides and take up the sleeves. Because he knew how much I already spent on the coat, he agreed to do the alternations half price. 

So here it is. It's still a bit baggy at the back but I do love the coat and it's perfectly warm for winter. So the £7.50 Hobbs coat turned out to be £65!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Babyliss Pro Cordless Gas Curling Wand

Remember when I bought the BaByliss Ceramic Clampless Curling Wand? I used it twice and sold it on Ebay. I could'nt get the hang of it and as it turned out for me, wands with the clamp is much easier to use.


My girlfriend recommend this curler which she carries around in her handbag. It's about £20 from Argos. The brilliant thing about this is that it's cordless and lightweight. Makes using it so much better as you don't have to worry about fiddling about with a cable. Also you can travel with it and not have to worry about the right power adaptors.

The box says you can carry it on board a plane but I've yet to try this out. The rules are that you can't carry spare energy cells, it must have a safety cover (which this does) and you can't use it inflight.

It comes with a brush attachment but I won't be needing it. To use, just switch it on, start it up by pressing the start button a few times and you'll hear it fire up (there is a little light which indicates that it's on) and gas is softly being expelled. It takes about 30 seconds to get hot and you can clamp the end of a lock of hair and roll it up. Hold for about 6 seconds and pull it off sideways by releasing the clamp.

This cordless curler works a treat and does'nt fry my hair as badly as the clampless. I found it fast to use. The wand heats up quick and the results are good. The curler does the job and the curls last a day or two. My girlfriend has curl resistant hair and she says it falls flat after a night out. If that sounds like your hair, it's not for you.

My only complaint is that because it runs on butane filled energy cells, it emits fumes while it's on. I guess that's normal however it's not pleasant when the wand is close to your face.

However that's a small con when the benefit is convenience. I like using this curler and I'm so glad to have bought it!





Sunday, October 21, 2012

Best Makeup Bargain Ever-Essence Stay All Day Eyeshadow

We were killing time in Budapest and I was browsing through a bargain bin at a pharmacy.  I found this eyeshadow in Steel The Show #03 (not pictured as I could'nt find a stock photo.)


I was a bit dubious as the pot was tacky looking. The product normally sells for 3 Euros. Steel The Show looks similar to 02 pictured.

The eyeshadow was the cheapest makeup I've ever bought because it was reduced to 99 HUF. Do you know what that is? That's 29p or 0.46 USD!

Turned out to be a great buy because the eyeshadow is excellent. It really sticks to it's promise by staying on all day. Even after a work out at the gym. The colour looks versatile and can be worn everyday as a pearly base or at night for a metallic glam look. The colour payoff is excellent, blends beautifully and my only regret was not buying more colours in the bargain bin. Doh!!!!

The product is cheap at regular prices anyway. I'm happy with the quality and it's made in Germany. I recommend these creme shadows so try them if you can!

What's your best makeup bargain ever?

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Glitter Tips

Revlon Iced Mauve with Color Fever Pink Diamond

Friday, October 12, 2012

Sephora Express Drying Oil

I don't know how this works but by jove, it really works!

I bought this while I was in Paris and thought it was intriguing. An oil that makes nail polish dry faster sounds like a miraculous product. I had to try it.

The bottle comes with a dropper in the lid. The oil is scent less and doubles up as a cuticle oil. Just squeeze a drop down the nail and let it run down to the tip.

Surely after a minute or two, the nail polish feels dry. Like properly dry! I can't believe it. I'll probably paint my nails more often now that it takes less than half the time it used to. And as promised it leaves a smooth shiny finish, more than what the top coat offers alone. I love this product!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Luella Scollop Gisele Tangerine Bag

When I saw this bag, I fell in love. It was the scollop edge and flower charm. The bag came from a designer consignment store and apparently I got for a very good price (so I was told). 

However after a few days and close inspection, I suspect it may be a high quality fake. It's a nasty sinking feeling!

I don't know much about Luella bags so if anyone cares to authenticate, please let me know. I'm aware this bag a limited edition range so I really hope it's real but nonetheless, the design is very cute. 







I found a lucky penny snug in the pocket!


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Crest White Strips 3D Vivid - Before and After Pics

People in the US rave about Crest Strips so I thought I'd give them a try. I've never whitened my teeth before and although the results were subtle, I could'nt expect better for a home job.

The strips were easy to use. Just peel off them off and stick on your teeth. The adhesive is sticks really well so there's no risk of them falling off. I could taste a teeny bit of bitterness from the chemicals but honestly they're virtually tasteless.

I wore them for 30 minutes. I peeled them off and rinsed out my mouth to flush away any residue.

Here are the pics. Note none of these photos are photoshopped except for resizing.




I'm happy with the results since it was easy to use and you can notice a difference with just one application. And there was no noticeable sensitivity afterwards. The strips were cheap as I bought them online for 85p each. I will buy them again!



Thursday, August 30, 2012

On A Budget in USA & Buffalo Exchange

My girlfriend and I are on tight budgets on this US trip.

We're saving a bundle by eating at whole food places. It works for us because we want to eat healthy and low carb. Salads in NYC and Washington DC are delicious and it beats eating junk.

For fun my girlfriend bought a pair of hair cutting scissors and we cut our hair. It was surprisingly easy to DIY because I wanted to dust off my ends. My hair now feels much better, I hardly lost any length and saved the cost of going to the hairdresser. I will do it again! What frugal folk we are.

Shopping wise, here's what I've bought so far.

1) Ed Hardy canvas slip ons for $16 on sale at Century 21. They are super comfy and serve well with all the walking we're doing.

2) Vintage navy eelskin handbag. The leather is soft and silky. Wasn't really a thrift shop bargain in Brooklyn Heights but I couldn't resist it as a souvenir. It was $27.

3) Revlon Colorstay black retractable eyeliner. Cheaper in the US than anywhere else. ($7ish.) I thought this would be good in the humid weather but it still runs and doesn't apply as smoothly as I'd like. Hope it performs better in UK weather.

4) Suave Humectant Moisture Conditioner which is cheap and amazing. $2.69 for a big bottle. Makes dry hair feel moisturised. It contains dimethicone so I won't use it regularly.

5) Noxema Cream Cleanser. Just a small tub to see what the fuss is about. It has a herbal menthol smell and its like washing your face with shaving cream. It doesnt foam. Has a pleasant tingly feeling which dissipates when rinsed. My skin feels soft and glows. A nice cleanser but make sure to rinse with warm water otherwise a residue remains.

I've also discovered Buffalo Exchange. The staff at Washington DC are chirpy and friendly. I carried over a cheap Dorothy Perkins dress which is too warm to wear so I exchanged it for $7.25 store credit. I was pleased because I didn't like the dress anyway and used the credit to buy a BCBG mini skirt which I love.

Next time I'm going to the States, I'm bringing a bunch of clothes on a kamikaze mission to Buffalo Exchange.

One of the photos are of retro toys in Williamsburg Brooklyn. There are lots of hipsters there so vintage isn't exactly cheap but its still awesome to see the stuff.



Monday, August 20, 2012

Denman Shampoo Brush

I've laid off on shopping because in saving for my trip to The States. The one thing I've bought recently is a simple and not so new invention, the Denman shampoo brush.

It's basically a remarketed palm brush which I used as a kid. But you're meant to massage your scalp with it when you shampoo. For £2.40 from Amazon, it wouldn't hurt to try.

At first I thought this was a great way to really get my head clean but it never made it to the bathroom. I'd forget to use it and it would probably end up collecting limescale.

So now I keep it in my handbag. With the soft plastic bristles, it works as a Tangle Teezer. Just a cheaper version. It's really handy because as I'm growing my hair out, the ends are knotty and the brush sorts it out very easily. I even prefer it to my Mason Pearson!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Argan Oil and Hair Growth, Does It Work?


If you are here because you're wondering if you should try Moroccan Oil, don't waste your money. They're another silicone based serum and products like these have been around for years. I have used Mucota Oil and Silk Oil of Morocco and got the same sleek, slippery feel and cosmetic effect of shiny healthy hair.

However I was intrigued with argan oil so I bought a 10 ml bottle which I keep in my handbag. It was from Argan Vie on Amazon for £4 including shipping. Better value for money to buy the pure stuff. It's useful as a smoothing serum after washing and if my excema's flaring up, it seems to calm it down a bit too. If ever my hair feels dry and knotty in-between washes, I'll warm two or three drops on my palm and apply to the ends of my hair.

Argan oil makes my hair more manageable, less flyaway and conditioned. However if you ask me if it's more effective than other oils, I honestly can't tell the difference between coconut, jojoba and argan oils aside from scent. They are all easily absorbed by hair and more natural than putting silicones in your hair.

For hair growth, oils are useful for stretching out trims to retain as much new length as possible. I'm only trimming every 4 months and I have bad split ends. To keep them feeling like straw, I smooth them down with oil.

Another tip to preserve is to use the lowest heat setting if you have to blowdry your hair. Just dry it 70% so it doesnt look wet and then leave it to air dry. If direct hairdryer heat can burn your skin, it will no doubt damage your hair!


Old Spitalfields Market Discovery



Don't You Love It When...

What you almost bought goes on sale.

I was in H&M a month ago and found this water marbling print bikini for my Malta trip. But I really did'nt need more bathing suits so I put it back. Today I was looking for a blazer with fold up the sleeves and guess what I found on the sales rack?

Reduced from £21 to £5 for the set. Can't stay no to that.

As for the blazer, I looked through three of the H&Ms around Oxford Street and could'nt find the right blazer. It turned out the suit blazer which I was wearing (handed down from my sister years ago) was perfect all along.

I tried on many blazers which did'nt fit and finally realised I could roll up the sleeves of my own. It was exactly the was the look I was after and I didn't need to buy a new blazer after all!



Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Microdermabrasion - My Experience

My sister started doing it when she noticed a cousin of ours with super smooth clear looking skin. Her secret was monthly microdermabrasion so I bought three sessions.

In my case, microdermabrasion is passing a rough surface of the end of a metallic nozzle with suction to keep the skin taut and suck away...well anything that comes off your skin. There is a range of suction strengths so the higher you go, the more abrasive it is.

The first session was gentle. First the beautician cleaned my face and massaged on a light oil. She plugged in the nozzle which is small and roughened like a nail file to a hose from the microdermabrasion machine. I was put on setting no. 4 which was'nt unpleasant or painful.

Afterwards she wiped down my face and applied a rich moisturiser. Was told not to wear makeup until the next day or so. I walked out of there with super soft baby skin!

A few days later my nose started to peel a little bit. There was a slight improvement with my skin tone.

The second session was three weeks later and I was put setting 5. It was a little  uncomfortable. I think I'll keep it at this level for the next session. I noticed big changes to my skin afterwards. Even the beautician said I had really firm skin as she was doing the treatment and a few days later my skin looked clearer and pores were more refined. Best results I've had with at the beautician's. I don't think I need foundation at this rate!

They say you need a minimum week recovery time before you can do it again, but I think two weeks should be the minimum so your upper skin has a chance to fully regenerate before being scraped off again. Well worth it, even just for the soft and smooth feeling alone!


Monday, April 9, 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo

While it would be wrong to say this shampoo saved my life, it's honestly the best shampoo I've ever used. Hands down.

I was so excited to try this cleansing oil shampoo by Shu Uemura. The concept sounded right because I need something that does'nt strip my hair of oils but it needs to properly clean it. My hair is limp and greasy within two days and I don't want to encourage more greasies by over washing.

It must have been fate because I managed to buy this shampoo from the hair salon upstairs in Selfridges and they don't normally stock this product. A bottle just happened to be there (sent mistakenly) and they sold it to me anyway.

One pump does the cleaning job marvelously and my hair feels soft and full of body afterwards. (I use two if my hair is really disgusting.) It has a pleasing floral scent. And best of all, it's the only shampoo which does'nt get me flakes or itchies. THE ONLY. I LOVE THIS SHAMPOO!

Mine cost £35 which is ridiculously expensive for shampoo so try to get it cheaper on online. You if you have fine oily hair like me, you won't regret it!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Vintage Favre Leuba Watch, Satchel Bag and Compact

I could'nt believe my luck when I found a Favre Leuba watch for £6. Actually, I've no idea when it comes to vintage watches but I could'nt resist this style. 

It was found with an outdated white strap and was'nt working. So I took it to the cheap watch repairer down the street. They were a friendly Afghan couple who shared an area with a mobile phone shop. 

The man opened the watch and said: "You don't need a new battery. This is a windup watch!" 

What a surprise! I took a closer look and saw tiny rhythmic moving parts. 

It needs winding every one to two days which is quaint and old fashioned. After all the years, it still runs like...clockwork. (Sorry.)

I was told the watch was older than me. In fact he liked it so much, he offered to buy it. Of course I said no. 

I picked this caramel leather strap from a basket of what looked like 100 random watch straps. The replacement only cost £5. 


I love over-the-body bags but my current one is too small to carry a book. I found this for £15. It's beat up and aged but that's how I like tan leather bags. 

Stratton Powder Compact from Ebay. Not to powder my nose but because it's gold and has pretty stars. I want to start a collection!

So old school. I love it.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Cutex Huckleberry Strong Nail

Denim jeans, corduroys from the 70s, and blueberries. Huckleberry reminds me of these things. This colour is terrifically funky, don't you think?

I suspect this is a "vintage" Cutex because I have'nt seen their nail polishes in shops for almost 10 years now. 

I'm reminded of the same thinnish Cutex consistency from when I was a kid. This is two coats and it could do with another to make it completely opaque. It has a shiny finish and drying time is reasonable. 

Remember buying Cutex nail polishes from the supermarket with the hanging card? I loved their colours and equally enticing colour names. No one makes white stemmed handles and rounded triangular bottles anymore. They need to bring old Cutex back!



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Cutex Huckleberry and Sweet Pea-Without and With Flash

What a difference in colour. In real life, they look dirty like the ones on the left.

I was hunting around Ebay for Cutex nail polishes. For anyone over 30, do you remember the bottles with tapered white handles? They were awesome. I love that design and wish they would bring them back.   

Alas no retro bottles were available, although I found two old advertisements from the 80s which I've pinterested

As for Huckleberry and Sweet Pea, I bought these for £2 each including shipping. The colours are rare and unusual. Already I can tell the green will be a mistake-it's looks like watery split pea soup. 

It's too bad the swatches on the internet look vastly different the real thing. So that's why with and without flash pictures are useful!





Wednesday, February 15, 2012

LK Bennett Linen Floral Heels

These stunning adorned shoes are a charity shop find. I love the colourful ribbon flowers. They're linen so I'm not sure if I'll get that much wear out of them but I bought them anyway due to overwhelming cuteness!




Dr Bronner's Soap and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Recently I bought a huge bottle of Dr Bronner's in Rose and tried using it as a shampoo. The instructions say you need to dilute but I don't bother. I just use it in controlled amounts, like a 50p sized amount. It's runny but very concentrated.

Because it's soap, it's alkaline and I can tell the difference vs normal shampoos. The pros is that it suds brilliantly, my scalp does'nt itch as much and the top layer of my hair does'nt get greasy as quickly. The cons is that it's tangly and strands tends to stick together (mattes easily, not because it's still dirty). My hair is wavy so thin locks form and makes it a little lank and frizzy. I stopped using it as a shampoo, especially because it leaves a residue and it feels worse than it did when dirty! This soap is now a body wash only.

To neutralize the high pH of the soap and help close the cuticle, tried the apple cider vinegar rinse.

There are many variants to this treatment. I filled a drink bottle with 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water. This is to pour over my scalp and it runs down my hair. 200mls of this solution does the trick. I leave it in for a minute or two and rinse. They say for super shiny hair, rinse with as cold water as you can stand. Make sure to keep this out of your eyes because it stings like crazy!

The results are noticeably softer, shiner and less tangly hair. I only do the ACV rinse once a week to clarify my hair and while it's true that the smell disappears when my hair is dry, it stinks when wet.

You can buy 5L of ACV for only £13.50 including shipping on Amazon. That's dirt cheap haircare! OK, its for animals but the acidity and it's origins are the same as the edible kind. As long as you're not taking it internally, who cares?

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Weekend Haul-Kiehl's, Dr Bronner's and Daiso

Went to Hampstead and bought a swag of stuff. 

Amongst the high end stores is an independent pharmacy and they stock lesser known but quality products. Like Dr Bronner's. I bought a huge bottle of the rose liquid soap since it's the best value for money. I've heard about it's multitude of uses (even for brushing your teeth-ew!) and figured if it's no good for my hair, I could use it for my laundry and kitchen floors.

I tried it as a shampoo. It's concentrated, runny and smells more like geranium than rose. I made sure to use a 10p sized amount and scrubbed with plenty of water. 

People have complained that it's dried their hair out but not for me. I like how it's made with organic ingredients and that it's SLS free. While it suds up well, it leaves a terrible residue in my hair. I'm now using it as bathroom cleaner and body wash.

Also bought two products from Kiehl's and they gave me three complementary deluxe samples, toiletry bag and more samples. I got the Ultra Facial Cleanser, Kiehl's Baby and samples were Creme de Corps (lush but expensive), Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and a new product, CDC Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter (smells and looks delish). 

And since I was wondering around the Japan Centre in Piccadilly Circus, I bought this cute Japanese peel off mask. The brand is Daiso which is dirt cheap in Asian countries but I paid three times more for it here. It's black and thick as tar. As for it's effectiveness, it leaves your skin softer (I'm guessing because dead skin flakes and fine hairs are removed.) but it's not good at removing blackheads. Pore strips do a better job and it's not as messy. Will not be buying this again!


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Ultrasonic Contact Lens Cleaner-The Best Invention Ever

...For those who wear contact lenses!


I have rigid gas permeable lenses which I don't wear that often. They're are a pain to clean and uncomfortable to wear. I get cloudy protein deposits so my optometrist says I need to give them a really hard clean.

So I bought this from Amazon for £17 including shipping and now I have a quick and easy cleaning regime.

Here's what I do:

1) Fill the chamber with saline solution.
2) Remove lens and secure them in the lens basket.
3) Plug in machine (in my hallway because there's no powerpoint in the bathroom) and turn it on. It has two settings, one for daily cleaning which runs for two minutes. And "super clean" which runs for 6 minutes for a weekly clean. When it's on, you can hear a faint hissing/fizzing sound.
4) Back in the bathroom, I rinse my lens case with saline and fill it with conditioning solution (or multi purpose solution).
5) Unplug the machine when the cleaning cycle is over. Pop the lenses in the case and chuck out the saline solution.

So there you go, no mindless rubbing and the whole process takes less than 3 mins. All I need is saline and conditioning solution. You could even skip protein removal because the machine really blasts them clean. I don't have to handle the lenses as much so I'm less likely to lose them. (Or break them which I've done once.)

You can use this machine for all types of contact lenses. I love it so much, I'm wearing my lenses more often now. They feel comfortable and super clean. Much cleaner than I could ever get them myself!

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